Tongue-in-Cheek Christie: I'm Sure Dem Senators Doing Their Best

Tongue planted firmly in cheek, New Jersey Gov. Christ Christie said he did not want to criticize Democratic Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Bob Menendez for failing to get federal funding for a critical bridge repair, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

“I feel badly about it, because I wish they would have been more powerful and more successful in being able to get more resources for New Jersey, but obviously they failed in that regard,” the Republican governor said Thursday about the lack of federal funding to replace the aging Portal Bridge.

Christie said he is sure Lautenberg and Menendez did the “best they could” to secure federal money to pay for the train passage over the Hackensack River, which needs a $750 million replacement.

Christie said he wasn’t going to “throw stones.”

“I’m sure they’re doing the best they can,” he said. “They’re working really hard to try to do better. And I hope they do better. Because if they do, all the people in New Jersey will benefit from that.”

The Journal reported earlier that the bridge was not funded because federal officials did not want to give Christie money after he earlier decided not to pursue a tunnel project championed by Lautenberg. Christie and Lautenberg have been feuding since.

Tongue planted firmly in cheek, New Jersey Gov. Christ Christie said he did not want to criticize Democratic Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Bob Menendez for failing to get federal funding for a critical bridge repair, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. I feel badly about...